Just like our previous XDCAM EX1 coverage, we’ve got continuing coverage here on the new HVR Z7U and HVR S270U HDV camcorders from Sony. Check back here for regular updates and news. Note that newer links and notes will appear at the top.

B&H has the Z7U in stock at this time, listed at $6,299.95 (simply add to cart to see this lower price reflected). At this time you can also order the S270U, listed at $8,499.95. All purchases made via those links help support FreshDV at no additional cost to you.

* Here’s a great video overview of the Z7U compliments of Midtown Video.

* EX1 vs Z7U vs Z1U lowlight framegrabs are up here. The EX1 has the clear edge in noise and brightness with the Z7U not far behind. That’s down in the PD170 low light levels, folks!

* Sony has released an import utility plugin for re-joining split M2T files from the CF Card Recorder. The plugin for Final Cut Pro users enables the use of the Log and Transfer import utility to acquire footage from CF Cards. Get it here. (Update: The download link now works)

* This thread at DVinfo has a few user-submitted M2T clips.

* Per DVinfo, Sony is offering a rebate for a free 8GB CompactFlash card with the purchase of a Z7U or S270U. The rebate link is not yet active, so check back soon.

* Jordan Oplinger wrote in to mention that the Sony HVR-Z7U user manual is in the wild, we have a copy mirrored here.

* Here’s a user report from Shawn Lam on his brand new HVR-Z7U. Several very interesting details.

* HVR Z7U User footage is beginning to surface. Here is one such clip at Divx Stage6. Recommend muting the music, it’s a bit overbearing. There is a mirror at Youtube. Could be my browser, but it plays back a bit jerky for me as if pulldown cadence is “off.” Thanks for JO for the tip!

* Digital Content Producer has posted a first look review of the S270 and Z7U.

* Here are a number of pictures of the prototype Z7U on display at GV Expo. You can see how the flash recorder unit hooks up, the interesting placement of a tape transport, and the free-spinning iris ring.

* Another article by IEBA about the new Z7U and S270U, this was a summary of the updates and features for EventDV Magazine.

* Anthony over at IEBA/Techthoughts has added several videos in the past few days:
- A seminar on the new models by Sony’s Juan Martinez.
- Demos of the TC/UB, Memory, In/Out, and Others menu systems.
- A demonstration of HVR S270 and HVR Z7U lens operation.

* IEBA blog has the display menus up now. (For more info on “Cam Leveling”, check out the product brochure linked below. Interesting feature.)

* Anthony Ajit passed on this link to the PDF brochure for Sony’s HVR-Z7E and HVR-S270E versions of the HDV cameras, and it offers more concrete specs and details. For instance, it becomes clear here that in addition to 1/3″ interchangeable lenses, you can also utilize standard 1/2″ and 2/3″ HD lenses using adapters. The camcorders feature standard ENG 12-pin lens connectors. Note that there is a zoom factor when adapting lenses, namely: 2x focal length for a 2/3-inch lens adapter, 1.3x with a 1/2-inch lens adapter, and 7x with a Sony Alpha DSLR still lens adapter. You should also check pg8 for some interesting features called “Camera Leveling” and “Focus Marking”…yes the camera can detect it’s horizon and display that on the LCD. Sweet. And the Skintone detail feature is now fully configurable…you can set the color manually. I should also note that the CompactFlash recorder automatically syncs with the camera when attached…it does all the recording start-stops without manual intervention. And here’s the answer to a question asked by a friend the other day…YES, you can record HDV 1080 to tape while also recording downconverted DV to card for short term SD delivery.

* Anthony Burokas has screencaps of the camera menus and audio menus (others to come).

* We previously were hoping that you could simultaneously record to tape, CF card, and firewire out to a hard disk recorder. It appears that you cannot as the Flash recorder covers up the Firewire port.

* Our initial coverage of the camcorder announcements. Features, specs and preliminary info from the press-releases.

As always, keep the links and comments coming.

While everyone was salivating over and pre-ordering the XDCAM EX1, Sony has been quietly putting together the final pieces of it’s alleged “Z1U replacement” camera. And they have now announced not one, but two new models…a boxy handheld unit dubbed the HVR-Z7U, and a shoulder-mount configuration designated HVR-S270U. Pricing for the new models is quoted by Sony as $6,850 and $10,500, respectively.

Both record 1080 HDV @ 24p and 30p via Sony’s 1/3-inch 3 ClearVid CMOS Exmor imager, and are rated at 1.5 lux. Other options include 1080i, DVCAM, and DV. Both downconvert HD to SD via Firewire (ok, i.LINK) and “other SD output connectors.” Additional output options include HD-SDI/SD-SDI (with embedded audio and TC) on the S270U and HDMI output on the Z7U.

What’s more, there is apparently a CompactFlash card module available for these cameras that will allow solid-state recording on industry-standard CF cards. You have the option of recording HDV, DVCAM, or DV to CF, and can do this at the same time you are recording to tape. The only requirements here are a 2GB minimum capacity and 133x minimum speed card. An 8 CF card would net you 36 minutes of HDV/DVCAM/DV, and 16GB CF doubles that to 72 min. I find it odd that Sony is backing a non-proprietary format, perhaps we have Red to thank for that.
Continue reading ‘Sony Announces HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U Pro Cameras’

 Cinevate Brevis 35mm Adapter Setup Tutorial [11:36m]: Download

The advent of affordable 35mm Lens Adapter systems have brought a new level of creative control to digital filmmakers. With that comes a new level of complexity…lens adapters can be confusing and sometimes downright difficult to configure with your camera. The crew here at FreshDV tends to be visual learners, so we thought we’d help shed a little light on the subject with a 35mm adapter video tutorial series. To that end, here is an 11 minute video that covers the basic setup and configuration of a Cinevate Brevis 35mm Adapter. We demonstrate this using the Brevis on a HVX200 mounted on Zacuto rods and baseplate. However the steps shown also apply to Z1U, HD100, and other common camcorder users. You don’t even need a 15mm rod system, though I highly recommend using one with 35mm adapters in general. Z1U users should note that they will need an additional spacer to get optimal backfocus with the Brevis (which sometimes necessitates a longer rod system).

We specifically address:
*Basic parts/component identification.
*Positioning and mounting the adjustable Brevis support bracket on 15mm rods.
*Mounting the Brevis assembly to camera/rods.
*Adjusting/leveling the diffuser image plane to match the camcorder.
*Setting camcorder zoom and backfocus on adapter screen (Hint for HVX users: start at around Z75 zoom).

Continue reading ‘How To Setup and Configure the Brevis 35mm Adapter’

Nathan Snyder of owyheesound has an interesting writeup on using old anamorphic projector lenses to squeeze true widescreen images out of a cheap DV camera without losing valuable vertical resolution by cropping/letterboxing.

“Put simply an anamorphic lens can squeeze a wide image to fit onto a typical format like 4:3 mini-DV cameras…A cheap and easy way to get experience using an anamorphic lens is to use readily available anamorphic projector lenses. Though these lenses were not designed to be used for cameras they can none the less be easily modified to be used with a camera. These projector lenses have the same basic abilities as the original Cinemascope lenses.”

A very do-it-yourself solution that might help eke a little extra filmmaking mileage out of great 4:3 SD cameras like the DVX100.

 Understanding Depth of Field - A Practical Primer [19:26m]: Download

Depth-of-Field. In simple terms DOF can be defined as “the distance in front of and beyond the subject that appears to be in focus.” Seems simple, right? But the myriad factors that contribute to a composition’s Depth of Field are often misunderstood (and frequently overly-simplified), leaving many filmmakers and photographers with a false understanding of the physics at play. And it goes without saying that when you educate yourself on the factors that contribute to DOF, you gain a greater level of control over your images, whether you are a cinematographer or photographer, professional or novice. A grasp of the basics of DOF become even more essential when shooting with a 35mm lens adapter system for video cameras.

That is why I am pleased to present the following 20 minute primer on the subject of Depth of Field, filled with practical illustrations and explanations of the physics at work in a lens, and simple examples that will help elevate your understanding of the subject. It thoroughly covers the topics of aperture size, focal length, camera-to-subject distance, circle of confusion (CoC), hyperfocal distance, and infinity focus. I believe that you’ll find it a very informative and approachable explanation of a somewhat arcane and confusing topic.
Continue reading ‘Video Tutorial: Understanding Depth of Field’

UPDATE: A sixth Follow Focus review, the SGfollow focus from shoot35, has been added as of July 13, 2008.

FreshDV’s full review of 5 seperate follow focus units is in the October 2007 print issue of DV Magazine, and also available online at DV.com. While we had the follow focus systems in our possession we also took some time to capture video footage of the units in action. In these video clips, I walk the viewer through the major features of each follow focus system, mount the units to our test rig equipped with a 35mm adapter, measure gear lash, and finally use them to drive a 35mm PL-mount cinema lens. Each unit we tested has unique strengths and weaknesses, we encourage you to view each of these videos and look for a system that meets your unique needs and requirements.

 Introduction and Chrosziel DV Follow Focus Review [8:57m]: Download
 Cinetech Titanium SL Follow Focus Review [5:32m]: Download
 Redrock Micro Follow Focus Review [5:33m]: Download
 Petroff Mini Follow Focus Review [7:27m]: Download
 Indifocus Follow Focus Review [9:51m]: Download
 Follow Focus Accessories [2:16m]: Download
 Shoot35 SGfollow focus [4:13m]: Download

You can view the video reviews in either Quicktime MOV format (links above) or as Flash video streams (embedded below). Note that the above Quicktime versions are higher resolution and quality. You may also be interested in our informative three-part series on the role of a First AC and Focus Puller, also embedded in the player below.
Continue reading ‘FreshDV Follow Focus System Reviews’

 The Art of Pulling Focus Part 3 Demo - 720p HD [15:00m]: Download

FreshDV recently spent a day with Bob Sanchez, a Chicago-based career 1st A/C with 30 years of feature filmmaking experience. In Part One and Part Two of our video series with Bob, Kendal Miller interviewed him on what exactly it takes to do the job, and the tips and tricks he’s learned over the years. Bob explained his unique method of focus pulling with a speed crank, how he approaches measuring and marking a scene, and the tools he uses on a daily basis. In this Third and final segment, we take you behind the lens as Bob shows us how he works hands-on. You’ll get a chance to see us block out a few scenes with an actor, and watch over Bob’s shoulder as he pulls focus on the HVX handheld 35mm adapter rig while Kendal operates. In the split screen you will see both the operators POV synced with what is actually being shot through the 35mm lens. Watch the Part 3 video below. You may also be interested in our video review of 5 popular Follow Focus systems.

Continue reading ‘FreshDV Film School: The Art of Pulling Focus (Part 3)’

Letus has released a new 35mm Lens Adapter product with a greatly improved design. The latest “Letus Extreme” product revision includes a solid metal casing, swappable lens mounts, prism flip, internal batteries, and only 1/2 stop of light loss. Quite a roster of upgrades, and the light loss improvement is impressive…but does it hold up to the hype?

Ryan Walters has written an extensive review on the new Letus unit, and he was pretty impressed. He thoroughly tested the Letus Extreme, and has shared resolution and color charts, as well as vignetting and bokeh examples. Excellent writeup. Ryan pulls no punches in outlining the adapter’s pros and cons.

UPDATE: The Letus team has also shared Video Samples and a model Comparison Chart.

(Thanks Dan)

In conjunction with the Chicago Cine Tech Expo later this week, Redrock Micro is offering Back to (Film) School discounts for Students and Film Educators.

…Redrock will be at Chicago Cine Tech and has a special price for students and educators. During the month of September, all Redrock M2 Bundles are 10% off regular prices, and all Redrock M2 Complete Packages are 20% off regular prices. Bundles include the award-winning Redrock M2 cinema lens adapter, microRodSupport system, achromat, and lens mount. Complete packages include everything in the Bundles, and add the microFollowFocus, microWhips, microPowerPod, and microLensSupport among many other items. All the details are in our online product catalog. The offer is open to anyone involved in education - students, film educators, etc. You just need to have a valid educational email or other form of school identification. This offer is good for international students/educators as well.

To take advantage of this unique offer use the following coupon codes when checking out:
10% of Redrock M2 Bundles - coupon code “BTS10″ (do not include the quote marks)
20% off Redrock M2 Complete Packages - coupon code “BTS20″
This sale is good for the month of September only. www.redrockmicro.com

That’s a pretty decent discount for anyone that is in the market for a 35mm lens adapter system. For instance, the HD Indie Complete Package for SLR lenses is normally $2,449.70, so 20% off would save you $489.94. Not too shabby.

16×9 Inc has released a new lens adapter, a slim single-element design that is well-suited to compact HD camcorders. The new EX Super Fisheye lens adds 0.4X of magnification and a distinctive barrel-distorted, convex view. The lens weighs just under 7oz and fits the following camcorders (some require step-down rings): Canon XH-A1/G1, Canon XL-H1, Panasonic DVX-100B, Sony V1U/FX7, Sony Z1U/FX7, and Sony PD170/150. More details and pricing follows…
Continue reading ‘16×9’s New EX Compact Super Fisheye’

Sony has announced an as-yet-unnamed interchangeable lens camcorder that records HDV. It has three 1/3″ ClearVid CMOS sensors, uses the same L-Series InfoLithium batteries as the Z1U/V1U, can record progressive images natively (lists 1080p/25, but I think that is the EU release info), and has DVCAM and HDV > SD downconversion on board. There is an uncompressed HDMI output, just like the V1. Oh, and interchangeable lenses too…

“Flexible Lens Options
The handheld camcorder is supplied with an interchangeable HD Carl Zeiss lens with 1/3â€? bayonet joint mechanism, allowing the flexibility of attaching existing 2/3â€? or 1/2â€? lenses with a standard lens adaptor. Lenses from the popular Digital SLR – a System from Sony can also be used with a special adaptor.”

Mike Curtis has more info and a video about this odd new annoucement.

We first mentioned this possibility earlier in the year, and it looks like the deal is finally available. Purchase a Foveas wireless focus system in tandem with the FS Pro vest-mounted stabilizer device, and you can take 10% off both units. This combo discount may be of interest to the new/upcoming RED camera owners who wish to fly their rigs and are shopping steadi rigs, as you’ll need some method of pulling focus on the RED lens while it’s on the stabilizer. The discount is valid through November 30th.

I should note that we have not yet had the opportunity to test the Foveas unit, nor have I read any reviews on the device. However, I will be reviewing it later this fall. We have used the Bartech BFD + M-One motor combo with a 35mm adapter rig, and it performs beautifully (as it should). It’s also over twice the cost; the Foveas + motor is priced at 895 Euro (about $1,220 USD), while the Bartech + M-One will run nearly $4000. Yet another wireless lens control option waiting in the wings for fall release is the Redrock Remote, but we have no confirmed ship date on that product at this time. Historically, one of the biggest issues with wireless lens focus units is the reliability and performance of the drive motor…and good motors generally do not come cheap. With these three offerings all over the pricing map, it will be interesting to see how they compare in real world testing.

The FreshDV crew interviewed Bob Sanchez recently, a career 1st AC with 30 years of feature filmmaking experience. This video is the second half of that interview, you can watch Part 1 here. In this segment, Bob details the methods he uses to pull focus, and what tools he carries on each job to facilitate the position of 1AC. Watch the Part 2 video below. Part 3 is also now online. Part 3 is the unique segment where we take you behind the lens as we demonstrate the techniques Bob uses. You may also be interested in our video review of 5 popular Follow Focus systems.

Continue reading ‘FreshDV Film School: The Art of Pulling Focus (Part 2)’

While much of the online community salivates over recent RED One announcements, Silicon Imaging’s proven SI-2K digital cinema camera has quietly gotten some very interesting upgrades. For starters, they have a film camera-style optical viewfinder option now, as well as an OLED EVF option (with secondary HDMI tap). There is a new MINI-Rig for handheld/shoulder mount use, and of course the beautiful (and upgradeable) enclosure designed by P+S Technik (shown here in our NAB Expo coverage).

Other new features include the option to frame-accurate synch multiple SI-2K cameras for multi-camera or stereo 3D applications. This feature would also be useful with multiple SI-2K MINI heads for Matrix-like effects and shots. There is also now the option to record CineForm RAW directly to QuickTime format as well as a few other handy user-configurable capabilities (like extended shutter durations).

The SI-2K currently lists for $28,500, the remote MINI head can be had for $17,500. You can obtain the optional new OLED viewfinder for $4000. This fall will see the release of the B4-mount optical viewfinder, with a PL-mount version coming early next year. You can find more info on the SI-2K at www.siliconimaging.com

Image focus is one if the most critical aspects of film and video production. It can also be one of the hardest to get right. Keeping your images in focus become particularly difficult when shooting with your lens aperture wide open, during fast-moving action, and when shooting video film-style with a 35mm lens adapter. On a production set the crew member generally tasked with image focus is the First Assistant Camera position. Depending on the size of the crew, other tasks for the 1AC may include building and breaking down the camera rig, setting the lens and aperture, keeping lenses clean, slating, and loading/marking film canisters. It is an important position, and a good AC effectively frees up the DP/Cinematographer to better perform his job.

FreshDV recently sat down with Bob Sanchez, a Chicago-based career 1st A/C with 30 years of feature filmmaking experience. In part one of our video series with Bob, Kendal Miller interviews him on what exactly it takes to do the job, and the tips and tricks he’s learned over the years. Bob explains his unique method of focus pulling with a speed crank, how he approaches measuring and marking a scene, and the tools he uses on a daily basis. This was a very informative experience for us, and we feel you will agree when you watch it. Watch the Part 1 video below. Part 2 and Part 3 are both now online. Part 3 is the unique segment where we take you behind the lens as we demonstrate the techniques Bob uses. You may also be interested in our video review of 5 popular Follow Focus systems.

Continue reading ‘FreshDV Film School: The Art of Pulling Focus (Part 1)’